“Martin Luther King Jr. is dead and he is not coming back,” said Tavis Smiley to a crowded Harrison Auditorium on Jan. 19 during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative celebration. Smiley, host of BET Tonight and a popular author, asked students, “Now that Rev. King has passed, what are you gonna do?” He noted that King did a lot in the civil rights movement, but what is this generation going to do to continue where he left off? Smiley drew an allusion to Moses, who led his people out of bondage, but there was life after bondage and the people had to do for themselves. “This generation does not know what it means to have someone tell you no because of your skin color,” said Smiley. “In our parents’ and grandparents’ generation there were many things that African Americans were the first to accomplish, and in this generation we can be the first to accomplish other things not thought of by previous generations.” Smiley’s third and final point hit home with many of the program attendees. “Think black first, 100 percent of the time,” said Smiley. By thinking black first Smiley brought out that African Americans could have a positive effect on the African American community. However, he noted that there are no African American airlines, so thinking black in that instance may be some new business for African Americans to get involved in. Though Smiley was delayed in his arrival to Aggie Land, he did not let that hinder him from signing autographs and taking pictures with some of his biggest fans. People lined aisles of Harrison Auditorium to get his signature on their copies of Smiley’s newest book, “How to Make Black America Better.” “We have worked hard this year to get Mr. Smiley on our campus,” said Shannon Cannady, committee member. The Martin Luther King Jr. committee who planned other events to the holiday started planning last year with suggestions for the committee for this year’s program keynote speaker. “Many of the committee suggested last year that Tavis is who they wanted and we went after him,” said Marva Watlington, who serves as committee chairperson. The Lyceum committee, Student Government Association, Student Affairs and Student Activities absorbed the cost of for Smiley’s visit. “It is wonderful when several bodies on campus can come together and sponsor one major event for the campus and community,” said Nicole Watlington, Miss A&T. Plans for the 2002 Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative ceremony are already underway. The committee has met and come up with names such as leading African American historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Merlie Evers-Williams as keynote speakers.